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In our scenario, the teacher, Carlos Cabana, has decided to present this problem in a group test. He has organized his class of thirty-four students into groups of three and four. They are working on the problem together. He will give each group one grade, to be determined by grading a different problem on each student's test.

Effective communication within the group was essential as Mr. Cabana had chosen a problem that was beyond the capacity of the students to solve individually.

Questions to consider:

Put yourself in Mr. Cabana's shoes and answer these questions.

What steps might students take to solve this problem?

What information would you want to see them communicate to one another about the problem?

What information would you want them to communicate with you about the problem?

What are some ways that a teacher might respond to student questions when students are working in a group? What message does each possible response send to the students?